12 Common Foods You Should Never Feed Your Dog

We’ve compiled a list of common foods you should NEVER feed your dog. It’s very important that you learn what’s safe and healthy for your dog to eat and what’s not. You may be surprised at some of the items on this list!

The following foods could seriously harm or kill your pet. Share this post with your family and friends so you can prevent tragic accidents from occurring.

Chocolate & Caffeine

You’ve most likely heard this one before…probably several times. Chocolate is, in fact, one of the most common causes of dog poisoning. The substances in chocolate that are toxic for dogs are caffeine and theobromine.

You’ve probably also heard, “the darker the chocolate, the more toxic.” This is also true. Dark and baking chocolate contain higher amounts of caffeine and theobromine than white and milk chocolate, but all of them can be dangerous for your dog and could lead to vomiting, abdominal pain, dehydration, abnormal heart rhythm, seizures, or even death.

Onions & Garlic

While you’re probably unlikely to offer your dog a whole onion or a bulb of garlic, you may be tempted to offer him your leftover food containing one of these dangerous items. Whether fresh, dried, or cooked, these can damage your dog’s red blood cells and cause gastrointestinal problems in your dog. If you notice any of the following signs, call your vet: loss of appetite, shortness of breath, weakness, or vomiting.

Grapes & Raisins

These two seemingly harmless items can actually cause rapid kidney failure in dogs. Death usually follows kidney failure within three to four days.

Milk & Cheese

These and other dairy products are hard on dogs. Many dogs don’t possess enough lactase to break down milk (which contains lactose). Milk consumption can lead to diarrhea, vomiting, or gastrointestinal problems.

Bread Dough

Dough made with live yeast can expand inside your dog’s stomach, leading to vomiting, diarrhea, disorientation, or even swelling, seizures, or coma in severe cases.

Bacon (and other foods high in fat)

You may be thinking, “Bacon? That’s my dog’s favorite food!” As much as dogs do LOVE bacon, it can be very dangerous for them to eat. The reason is that bacon is very rich in fat and can lead to pancreatitis in dogs. This is when the pancreas becomes inflamed and stops functioning the way it should, which can lead to digestion and nutrient absorption issues. Other foods that are high in fat can also cause these problems in your pup. Think twice before the next time you let your dog clean off your plate after breakfast or dinner.

Meat with Bones

If you’re about to throw your dog a bone, think again. Chicken and fish bone splinters could get stuck in your dog’s throat and possibly block or perforate the digestive system.

Apples

Don’t leave your apple core lying around for your dog to snag. The cores of apples, pears, apricots, and plums all contain cyanide, which is very toxic to dogs. Ingestion of this toxin can cause dizziness, breathing problems, collapse, seizures, hyperventilation, shock, or coma.

Other foods you should never give your dog to eat:

• Mushrooms
• Raw Eggs
• Avocados
• Apples
• Sugar
• Xylitol
• Macadamia Nuts
• Rhubarb Leaves
• Alcohol
• Caffeine
• Raw/Undercooked Meat

If you have fed your dog any of the above food items and you notice any of the signs listed, call your vet as soon as possible.

Have you recently adopted a new dog from your local animal shelter? If so, you’re probably hoping that your decision ends up to be a good fit for your family and your new pup. If it’s already been a few weeks and you’re feeling some frustration with the situation, we have the perfect resource for you, written by Sean McDaniel, dog trainer for 15 years. His new eBook (below) will help you devise a game plan to deal with many of the challenges that have and will arise. Download it today!

If you need advice or help training your dog, or if have any questions about The Dog’s Way, The Dog’s Way DVD Training Course, or The Dog’s Way Podcast, contact us anytime! We know that every dog is unique and starts at a different level of competence. Learn how to figure out where to start training with your dog to make learning easy and natural.